christmas carol

The Wexford Carol

/ David Wood / 1 Comment

St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

One of my very favorite songs for the Christmas season, originating in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Apparently, it’s one of the oldest extant European Christmas carols, which came back into the tradition around the turn of the 20th century. The video below is an intimate, and beautiful, performance traditional singer by Marianne McAleer.

The Wexford Carol

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town
But mark right well what came to pass
From every door repelled, alas
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox’s stall

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Sans Day Carol (The Holly She Bears a Berry)

/ David Wood / 1 Comment

Christmas celebrations in Cornwall.

Merry/Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. New and greater things are in store for 2014 here on SOTI. Now, here are the Chieftains with a 19th century Cornish carol.

Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk:

Chorus: And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!

Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:
Chorus

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